The Movie Thread

Hi anglagard,I was once having a business lunch with some co-workers at a Cracker Barrel. (Not my choice) Somehow the topic of cinema came up and one of the ladies that works in my office asked me "what kind of movies do you likke to watch.?" To which I replied, "I have lately been enjoying foreign films."
Immediately all the people at the table went silent. And all were making a awkward face towards me. I asked, "Did I say something wrong?" It was only later I found out that they heard me say:
" I have lately been enjoying PORN films." lol.Well I do. Enjoy foreign films that is. I seen a Danish film not to long ago called: "After the wedding"(2006)
After the Wedding (2006) - IMDb
It was very well done in my opinon and very refreshing in how it was scripted and shot. Which is one of the reason I like foreign films. Another great classic is "The Conformist" (1970)
The Conformist (1970) - IMDb
directed by
Bernardo Bertolucci. To me one of the most gorgeously framed and shot films I have ever seen. Enjoy.Edited by 1.61803, : 1970 2006Edited by 1.61803, : spell

I will have to check out "Look who's back" My wife is German so she will probably get a kick out of it. We watch many German films together. I know I do not get the full effect having to read subtitles.
I am leaning German but it is a complex language. Didnt someone famous say, "Life is too short to learn German." ?I did see "Down fall" and will watch pretty much anything that has to do with WWII. One of my favorite scenes in that one is when the old
salty Field Marshall General is taking artillery fire at his position just outside Berlin. He is covered with dust as he goes marching into Hitlers bunker, unbeknownst to him he is being called there to be shot for cowardice and retreating in the face of the enemy.
The look on his face is priceless.I once wrote a long and flowery poem to my wife in English and then used Google translate to translate it into German.
How funny it was to see how all my flowery language was chopped into astringent short sentences. Not romantic at all but my wife got a laugh out of it ! German films worth a look:
"M"(1931 Fritz Lang) a must see for any film buff. M (1931) - IMDbPeter Lore screaming...."ICH MUSSSSSSS!!!!!!!""Barbara" (2012 Christian Petzold) Period piece that is a stark, harsh look at life on the East side of the wall circa early 1980's that sharply contrast with the softer side of what love can drive us to do.
Barbara (2012) - IMDb

Hello dwise1,

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German's not that complex.

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Ok, not "that" complex. But complex enough to confound a simpleton like moi.I finally watched "Look who's Back" I found it both amusing (laughed out loud many times.) And my wife found it entertaining as well.
Unsettling to say the least though; the director and writer managed to tap into such a wide array of emotions from all walks of life. The film seemed to show through comedy just how much remaining fear and horror of the holocaust still lies in a shallow grave of the world's consciousness. And even though there is laughter it is not a laughter of mirth and merriment but a nervous inappropriate laugh of one who is uncomfortable and not completely at peace with the subject matter.So in that respect I found it to be a good thought provoking film.

Hi dwise1,
Very thought out response and much appreciated.

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In two years of high school German, I learned far more about English grammar than I ever did in twelve years of English classes.

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I can see how this can be so. I do actually like the German language because it is so direct and clear. There is very little misunderstanding things spoken in German. Its "die ja oder nein."

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is German your first foreign language?

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Actually it is Spanish. I have been exposed to more Spanish in my life than German. I have found that watching German soap opera mit mein frau has helped me with my vocabulary considerably. When we were first dating I needed her to translate constantly. Today I can almost get through the whole 30 min soap with minimal translation.

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I was watching a German TV movie version of "Valkyre" and there was a scene at the family dinner table where the conversation was in small fragments that all made perfect sense in German, but which had the subtitles scrambling to keep up.

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Don't I know it! There are subtletys packed with meaning in many languages that can only be picked up from living in and among the people. Reminds me of that scene in 'Inglorious Basterds' where the English spy Captain,(impersonating a SS officer) raises three fingers in English fashion rather than like eine Deutsche mann and blows his cover.

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I already talked about the verb systems in English (a West Germanic language, as is German) and German being very similar. But only about 25% of English vocabulary is related to German (ignoring the French words that German also borrowed), so vocabulary learning is a bit more difficult.

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Genau.
the word for frog is frosch, kind of close but one wouldn't know it.
The word for French is also frosch. Ok bad joke.
Btw I was in Germany twice in my life. The first time in 1973 like you. Then again when I joined the Army in 1985. I am looking forward to going back again some day. So I have some movies to watch. If you get a chance Youtube has lots of Marchens that are true classics and are good for novices like myself who already know the plots and can stumble along the dialog. Edited by 1.61803, : ya for jaEdited by 1.61803, : No reason given.

Very interesting stuff dwise1.I was in Germany in 72-75 because my dad was stationed at Baumholder near the French side of Germany, Saarland.As things would have it I joined the Army in 85 and my first duty station was...you guessed it Baumholder.It gets even better. I was a combat medic assigned to a Division Artillery Brigade who then further assigned me to a Field artillery unit.
When I got to the orderly room I was looking at old company photos and in one of the pictures was my dad. The unit was renamed but it I was in his old unit. That is just crazy.
I want to go back too. My wifes parents are in Wieden.In keeping with the Movie thread: I did not find "Dirty Girl" From either title. I wonder if it was yanked form Netflix. I'll try Amazon.
I did watch the French movie: Female Agents with Sophie Marceau what a beauty . I saw Caffeine's suggestion "The Lives of Others"
and was very touched by it. My wife sometimes has a hard time with East German historical pieces because she actually grew up on the other side of the wall back in the late 70s all the way until it came down in 89. The bullshit that government ,(DDR)put people through is just nuts.